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Easy Satellite Stereo Upgrades For The New Tacoma

Photography by Calin Head

Mini Truckin', September 01, 2006

When it comes to stereo systems, there are some people out there that just want to listen to their music, plain and simple. Generally, it's the same group that's scared of all the new fancy gizmos and gadgets and don't even use cell phones. Just kidding about the cell phone part, but now there's no need to be scared of upgrading your stock stereo system. Many companies have taken the fear out of this by making a number of adapters and plug-and-play wiring kits to get you on the road with upgraded sounds in no time. After you see just how easy this is you might even get excited and want to add some bumps, so check out our other special audio tech stories in this issue.

We used a stock Tacoma for our guinea pig, which has a proprietary radio that is not your standard single DIN, so away we went, looking for anything and everything we would need, and what we discovered was awesome. We found it all: a head unit that has a satellite tuner, a dash kit from Scosche that will hold a single DIN, with a wiring kit that will convert the factory harness to any radio plug. We also stumbled upon a set of speaker mounts from Taco Tunes that would let us install a pumped-up set of speakers.

Once all of our stuff showed up, it was time to put it in the truck, so we hooked up with Adam Gedik from 714 Motorsports. After all was said and done, Adam agreed with us that with these parts this is one of the simplest installs he has done. If you're confident in your abilities to remove some interior pieces and clip a few plugs together, you could easily do this install at home in less than two hours. For more information, contact the companies listed in the source box.

1. Here are the parts we found to completely remove the factory sound system and replace it with kick-ass aftermarket parts without having to cut, drill, or fiberglass anything; we didn't even need butt connectors!

1. Here are the parts we found to completely remove the factory sound system and replace i

2. Obviously, to replace the door speakers we needed to remove the door panel. We started by removing this upper plastic piece that covers the mirror hardware. There are two screws that hold on the panel. One is located in the lock/handle assembly, and the other is under the door pull/armrest, right by the door handle. The screws are hidden with a little cover that is easily opened with a small flat-tip.

2. Obviously, to replace the door speakers we needed to remove the door panel. We started

3. Here Adam has already unscrewed the four 10mm bolts that hold the factory speakers in and unplugged the harness to pull the stock speaker.

3. Here Adam has already unscrewed the four 10mm bolts that hold the factory speakers in a

4. Scosche also offers factory speaker hook-ups as well. This really makes the job much easier than having to cut and splice everything together. Plus, it can be put back to stock by simply removing the harness.

4. Scosche also offers factory speaker hook-ups as well. This really makes the job much ea

5. By using the custom Taco Tunes speaker mounts all that needed to be done was a little notching to clear the wires, and then both the mounts and the speaker could be bolted in place.

5. By using the custom Taco Tunes speaker mounts all that needed to be done was a little n

6. With the new speaker in and no worries about loose connections, the door panel can be put back on without any concerns.

6. With the new speaker in and no worries about loose connections, the door panel can be p

7. After the fronts were done Adam jumped to the rear speakers and removed the rear door panels.

7. After the fronts were done Adam jumped to the rear speakers and removed the rear door p

8. The rear speakers were unbolted the same way and popped out.

9. The only modification that had to be done to the Taco Tunes adapters for this particular application was to notch for the short speaker wire.

9. The only modification that had to be done to the Taco Tunes adapters for this particula

10. Here you can see the notch for the speaker wire as Adam bolts in the speaker adapter mount.

10. Here you can see the notch for the speaker wire as Adam bolts in the speaker adapter m

11. Just like the front, the mount is held on with the provided hardware and the Scosche harness is plugged directly to the factory wiring before screwing in the upgraded speaker.

11. Just like the front, the mount is held on with the provided hardware and the Scosche h

12. With all the speakers installed and out of the way Adam moved to the dash to make room for the new head unit. The hardware for the radio is hiding under the heater controls. Use a small screwdriver to pry out from the bottom. This is enough to get it out.

12. With all the speakers installed and out of the way Adam moved to the dash to make room

13. Once the screws are taken out, the dash panel can be popped out and the radio can be unbolted. With the radio in hand, the clock/hazard light assembly is removed to reinstall in the new Scosche dash kit.

13. Once the screws are taken out, the dash panel can be popped out and the radio can be u

14. Here's a look at the dash kit that Scosche designed to retain the factory look.

15. The clips holding the factory dash in will also be transferred to the new dash kit.

16. After all the factory clips are transferred to the Scosche kit the radio cage and new head unit are installed.

16. After all the factory clips are transferred to the Scosche kit the radio cage and new

17. With the new dash kit completely assembled and ready to be reinstalled we can move to the Sirius tuner. Adam started by plugging in our new wiring harness kit for the radio.

17. With the new dash kit completely assembled and ready to be reinstalled we can move to

18. Here's a look at the Sirius tuner. Everything needed for out-of-this-world radio (and even a little Howard Stern).

18. Here's a look at the Sirius tuner. Everything needed for out-of-this-world radio (and

19. You'll need to pick an antenna placement that gives the antenna a good line of sight to the satellites above.

19. You'll need to pick an antenna placement that gives the antenna a good line of sight t

20. Once the antenna is placed you can route the cable to the tuner box location.

21. There's plenty of room behind the radio, so that made the perfect spot for the tuner.

22. There was one connection we had to make that required us to strip back two wires. We needed to tap the harness to get power and ground for the Sirius unit.

22. There was one connection we had to make that required us to strip back two wires. We n

23. With power and ground connected, the tuner box is velcro'd out of the way and the new unit can be plugged in. Then the dash can be snapped back together.

23. With power and ground connected, the tuner box is velcro'd out of the way and the new

24. Not bad - easy install and even easier listening! With over 120 channels it's like having your very own satellite dish in the back of your truck.

24. Not bad - easy install and even easier listening! With over 120 channels it's like hav